The Australian Government is pursuing further reforms in the aged care sector by providing A$2.2 billion ($1.5 billion) in new investment as part of the 2024-2025 Budget. . Half of it will fund “critical technology and platform improvements and maintenance” in key aged care digital systems, ensuring they “remain modern and compliant France”.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Since the Royal Commission published its findings into Aged Care Quality and Safety in 2021, the government has implemented significant changes. To further respond to the royal commission’s recommendations, the committee is currently working on a new Aged Care Act that would merge three existing acts. It recommends a rights-based approach to providing care to older people, meaning they understand their rights, the expectations of care providers and the safeguards . It is argued that the current Act focuses on providers rather than those accessing their services.
The cornerstone of the proposed Act is an investment of A$1.4 billion ($1 billion) to fund upgrades to technology systems and digital infrastructure in the healthcare sector. care for the elderly.
BIGGER TREND
The royal commission’s 2021 report highlights Australia’s aged care sector is “deeply similar” and “behind” other sectors in its use and uptake of technology. This finding was further reinforced by a survey report the following year which noted: lack of key digital systems and reliance on paper-based systems in the country’s residential aged care sector. Another survey report published earlier this year also highlighted the lack of innovation, especially the uptake of emerging technologies in the sector.
After accepting most of the royal commission’s recommendations, including 30 related to digital, the federal government initially launched investments in A$312.6 million ($200 million) to modernize IT in the aged care industry by 2022.
